Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-10-05
independence Day in Mexico.

independence Day in Mexico.
Correspondence of the Alexandria GAzErrEl
CITY OF MEXICo, Sept 10th, 1SS7.-The
Mexican's Fourth OF July" comes around
every 16.h Of September and generally lasts
three days. Il is held in honor of the de-
claration Of independence made in 1915
against Spanish rule. Hidalgo, feeble ole
curate of the Catholic church, was the
Washington of the period. He chose foy 6
| flag en- ensign with the picture of the Vir.
/ gin CT Guadalupe on one side and Inde
| peudeIce on the other AS a leader he was
failure, being captured and shot before he
attained much success but the work he be-
gan finally triumphed after hard struggle
Of years. Their declaration was short and
was made by Hidalgo at eleven o'clock al
night, when he rose from his bed, gathered
g !ew Indians around him and shouted
"Viva Mexico, Viva Ia Liberiad" QoDg live
Mexico and lbertY) and from that time il
has been called "El Greto de Dolores" or
the cry for freedom given ut the small town
Of Dolores. and every year since the presi.
dent appears in the balcony OF the national
paiace at eleven o'clock ON the anniversary
night aud Will! the trcoor of Mexico he
gives the same shout of freedom, at which
| moment the fire works all go off in q blaze.
The people shout the bugies blast, the bands
play, the church bells peal out from all
church and cathedral towers and the
salvos of artillery roar out above all. Such
wss the scene we sat up 10 witness, and
which properly introduced the celebration
Of Independence day. Yet on tho day pre-
vlous there were civil and military process.
SoDs and torch.light professions at night !;
besides there we're foot and donkey races.
But the grand display Of all was reserved
until the sixteenth. when all the foreign le-
cations hung out their respective banners to
the breeze, besides private and public build
ings we're decorated with flags, bunting and
green boughs wyee;hed with flowers. The
street professions consisted of mutualstic
societies, the children of the public schools,
labor unions, "cargadoros,o or those who
hire themselves out as common carriers, fire
companies, the school Of correction, and va
riOus military companies, including Infantry
corps, Chapultepec cadets, and the cru
ra!es," or the country mounted guards. The
latter torn the flower of the Mexican army,
and in dress are perhaps unlike any military
or civic society on the face Of tho earth.
Each man is armed "cap pic" and has O
pi|bS AChtHCi SUit, WIN q liiI, fCs hluCJ
silver mounted hat and hieh,topped boots,
with spurs even heavier tnap the boots
They have fine praucing horses, and when
bounding ahead with drawn swords and
long lassos by their side, they indeed pre-.
sent formidable front, and considering
their expertness with the lesso, they pre-.
sent q very novel feature, but in their hands
ii is claimed to be an excellent weapon both
OF defense and offense. Following these
came the artillery wagons, bands, trumpet.
ers mounted on black horses, next the white
horse cavalry and bay horse reserves, with
Il large company of officers in deposit and
others whom the government pays TO keep
quiet. Next. and the most beautiful display,
were three floats representing the United
States part OF the procession. The first
was an ailegorical representation of the
landing of Columbus. This was provided
with SpGniards and Indians and drawn by
horses which, when started. went at full
speed and landed Columbus high and dry
over the bow of his ship, and spilled the
other Spaniards and Indians all along the
way But the horses were soon checked
and the ship brought under way again, and
the ship and crew returned with unmistak-
able evidence that they had all landed some
place Next followed the car bearing the
life sized pictures Of Hidalgo and Washing
ton shaking hands and embracing the re.
spective flags of the two republics. On the
back of this painting was the motto, lib
erty, Friendship, Peace and Progress"
Next followed the car bearing the
Goddess of Liberty, and attended by
living figures representing science. art and
agriculture, with base bearing the names
OF al the States in the union, and the whole
was mounted with the American eagle,
which with every movement of the wagon
tapped his wings over all. The Americans
were the only foreign colony represented,
and hence drew many pleasing comments
from the Mexican press and people. In the
afternoon children's ball wes given in the
mining pavilion, and was followed by the
usual spread eagle speeches By members Of
Congress and other political aspirants.
At four o'clock there WAS to be free bull
fights, but the rain prevented, and so the
celebration closed with fireworks and pub.
lie free ball for the poor people in the city
circus ring. This lasted moat of the night
and was attended by sandaled Indians. half
breeds and bianketed peones. All were
searched aud disarmed as they went in. SO
all went OFF without any one being killed
Thus it was q successful fandango, where
all, without regard to sex, clothes or color
were On lcvei, and the glorious day ended
with many patriotic spirits bowed low under
the effects o! pulque, mesca aud tequile,
the popular drinks OF the country.